Woody v. Denver & Rio Grande R. R.

132 P. 250, 17 N.M. 686
New Mexico Supreme Court·Decided May 9, 1913·No. No. 1514·Published·Cited by 12 cases

Opinion

OPINION OP THE COURT.

ROBERTS, C. J.

—In the case of Seward, et al. v. The Denver & Rio Grande R. R. Co. this court, at the present term, in an opinion not yet published, settled many of the questions presented by the record. Points discussed' by counsel in this case, not arising in the former case,, necessary to be determined now, may be briefly stated as. follows: (1) The order now under consideration required the defendant to maintain a telegraph operator, whose fluty it should be to receive and forward such telegrams as might be offered by the general public, thereby compelling the-defendant to engage in the commercial telegraph business. The evidence failed to show that the defendant company was engaged i.n the commercial telegraph business, and the question presented is as to whether or not the commission had the power to order the company to engage therein. (2) The notice of hearing served upon the railroad company informed the defendant company that the-commission was proposing to investigate the question as to whether or not the said company maintained adequate-facilities at the station of Barranca for the accommodation of passengers, and for receiving and delivering freight and express, and the further question as to whether said company should be required to maintain an agent at said station through whom the patrons of the road could transact business with the company. It will be observed ■ that no mention was made in the notice or order for the hearing, of the fact that the commission would investigate the question as to whether or not an agent and telegraph facilities were necessary and required for the safety of the traveling public and the ellipses of the road, in the operation of defendant’s trains. The question presented is as to the power of the commission to make an order broader in its scope than the notice served upon the company. In other words, has the company to be affected, the right to be advised in advance as to the extent of the relief asked and the basis upon which a proposed order is to be made ? The question of safety being eliminated, (3) is the order made by the commission reasonable and lawful, and should it be enforced by the court, in the absence of any evidence showing the cost of the facilities required to be furnished by the commission.

1 Discussing the questions in the order presented, (1) tliere is no evidence in the record tending to show that the railroad company is engaged in the commercial telegraph business. While it is true that the railway company may be required to provide and maintain “adequate depots, stock pens, station buildings, agents and facilities for the accommodation of passengers, and for receiving and delivering freight and express,” and might, upon a proper showing, be required to maintain a telegraph station and agent, for the accommodation of passengers and for receiving and delivering freight and express, it could not, independent of its duties as a common carrier, be required to furnish telegraph facilities so that the public might commercially derive convenience therefrom. This same question was before the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in the case of R. R. Co. v. State, 100 Pac. 16. The syllabus of the case states the question presented and decided, tersely as follows:

“A railway company engaged as a common carrier in the transportation business is not required to install and maintain telegraph stations to- receive and transmit messages for commercial purposes, independent of its business as such common carrier.”
“A railway compan)'- is required to furnish all necessary equipment and facilities for the discharge of its duties as a common carrier; but when such are not reasonable and necessary for such purpose, it is not, independent of its duties as a common carrier, to be required to furnish them, that the public may, commercially, derive convenience therefrom.”

To the same effect is the case of Ry. Co. v. State (Okla.), 103 Pac. 617.

This order imposed upon the defendant an obligation outside of its charter duties. Commercial telegrams are sent and received for purely private purposes. The railroad has no interest therein, and is in no manner benefited thereby, and the railroad company cannot be required to install and maintain telegraph facilities at the station unless such facilities are reasonably necessary on account of the safety and expedition of the train service, either freight or passenger, or of the convenience to be afforded to the public by the railway company in the conduct of its freight or passenger service. The order cannot be sustained upon- the assumption that an arrangement exists between the railroad company and a commercial telegraph company by which such commercial telegraph company will pay practically all of the salary of the operator. There is no showing in the record as to what the expense •of maintaining such an operator would be, or that there is any such arrangement between the railroad and telegraph companies. Were there such an arrangement, nevertheless, this order would be unenforcible. The telegraph ■company is not a party to this case; it has never been given the hearing provided by sec. 8 of art. XI of the ■constitution; it has never had its day in court. A party is entitled to some notice before he can be deprived of his liberty or property.

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Woody v. Denver & Rio Grande R. R., 132 P. 250, 17 N.M. 686 (N.M. 1913).

132 P. 250 (Woody v. Denver & Rio Grande R. R.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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